Composers Michael Gordon, David Lang and Julia Wolfe created the first Bang on a Can Marathon concert in 1987 in order to break down the barriers that separate musical communities.
Their idea was simple: instead of sorting music by style, genre or venue it would be more powerful to group music by innovation--finding the rebels in each musical community, the restless creators not content to leave conventions unchallenged.
To wit, putting all of these voices back-to-back on one gargantuan concert would allow the audience to experience the excitement of the innovation and, perhaps more importantly, the breadth of this trio's vision.
Gordon, Lang and Wolfe's first Marathon, in Soho's Exit Art Gallery, featured appearances by such leading lights as Steve Reich, John Cage, Pauline Oliveros and Milton Babbitt, alongside music by young composers whose musical voice had no home.
In short, the Marathon is the heart and soul of Bang on a Can.
Returning to lower Manhattan with its incomparable mix of boundary-busting sounds from around the globe (and just around the corner, too), the 2013 Bang on a Can Marathon will feature nine hours of music from some of the most pioneering artists of our time side-by-side with today's newest voices.
Co-presented with the River To River Festival and Pace University, this year's Marathon will be held at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts (3 Spruce Street).
And as always, the Bang on a Can Marathon remains completely free.
Here's the schedule, thus far:
1 p.m.
Caleb Burhans: oh ye of little faith...(do you know where your children are?) performed by Alarm Will Sound
Derek Bermel: Canzonas Americanas, Mvt 1: "El Dude" performed by Alarm Will Sound
Peter Evans: solo performed by Peter Evans, trumpet
Charlie Piper: zoetrope performed by Alarm Will Sound
Jeffrey Brooks: After the Treewatcher performed by Alarm Will Sound
Lukas Ligeti: lakoni in kazonnde* performed by David Cossin and Ben Reimer, drums
Cabaret Contemporain [to be announced from stage]
3 p.m.
Shara Worden: Before the Words performed by Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Nico Muhly: Short Prayers in Respect of a Storm performed by Brooklyn Youth Chorus with pianist Aleeza Meir and string quartet
Kendall Williams: Conception* performed by NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble/NYUSTEEL, Jonathan Haas, director/conductor
Yungchen Llamo and Anton Batagov: Medicine Buddha; White Palace performed by vocalist Yungchen Llamo and pianist Anton Batagov
John King: Astral Epitaphs performed by Brooklyn Youth Chorus, TILT and John King on live electronics
Talk Normal: XO; Shot This Time; Dedicate This Song performed by Talk Normal
Tom Zé (arr. Stephanie Richards) Mā performed by Asphalt Orchestra
5 p.m.
Asphalt Orchestra [to be announced from stage]
Julia Wolfe With a blue dress on** performed by Monica Germino, violin
Hans Abrahamsen: Schnee (Ten canons for nine instruments) performed by Talea Ensemble
Angélica Negrón: Drawings for Meyoko performed by Hotel Elefant
7 p.m.
Cabaret Contemporain [to be announced from stage]
David Lang: death speaks performed by Bang on a Can All-Stars and vocalist Shara Worden
Tamar Muskal: Mar de Leche performed by cellist Maya Beiser with the Provenance Project Band
Annea Lockwood: Vortex performed by Bang on a Can All-Stars
9 p.m.
Michael Gordon: Yo Shakespeare performed by Bang on a Can All-Stars
Tatsuya Yoshida: Zwimbarrac Khafzavrapp performed by Asphalt Orchestra
* World Premiere
** US Premiere
In addition, Found Sound Nation--Bang on a Can's social engagement wing--will host its unique Street Studio. A mobile recording studio equipped for passersby and Marathon musicians alike to spontaneously create and record original music, the Street Studio will be stationed at the Schimmel Center for much of this year's Marathon.
Finally, because it was shot in the Winter Garden here at Classicalite's World Financial Center offices, here's a great highlight reel of BoaC's 25th Anniversary Marathon (uploaded by our friend I CARE IF YOU LISTEN).
